J20 Suspension Lift

[74j20]

I just replaced the rear leaf springs on my '74 J20 after several conversations with Rough Country and a new set of bushings..got the springs installed but now the driveshaft appeard to be about 2" too short...Does this make any sense to anyone out there? I have not pulled the driveshaft completely out, but I can see that the moveable portion (near the transmission) only moves about 2" then stops..I cannot pull it apart..is this normal? If I have to have the driveshaft lengthened, can anyone tell me how to measure the static length and how much travel does it need? I don't want it too long so that the shaft bottoms out with full load. Please provide any advice or lessons learned that you might have..thanks

Charley :confused:

[cocco_78]

How much lift did you end up with? Are the center pins in the springs centered? Seems odd that your d-shaft is so short now.

[Gwamp]

Your new springs MAY have moved your axle back an inch or two. If that is the case, you will have to either get a new one or have yours elongated. If you lift over a certain amount you have this problem anyways and have to get your driveshaft customized.

[Elliott]

Is it possible to put those springs in backwards?
I installed 4" Skyjacker springs on my '80 Cherokee and didn't have a problem with them, just added new shocks.
Rough Country springs are only 3" I think.
Seems you'd have to have about 6" of lift before you'd have a problem with driveshaft length.

[Hump]

I've got 9" of lift on the rear of my J20, and there isn't even any spline on the slip joint showing. Does the center of the axle still line up in the wheel well?